When I discovered I was pregnant with my first child, I would lay awake at night, wondering what labor would feel like and how long would the whole process take. I knew it was going to hurt–that was a given–I did not have any high hopes for a pain-free birth. I just wanted to know exactly how long I was going to be in pain for. That would be nice to know.

mbailey20: If I counted from water breaking…my baby basically flew out like a log ride!twister10921: 27 hours, 3 1/2 hours pushing. Unmedicated.ntapacamel: 30 hours of labor and pushed for three, my baby failed to progress and it finally ended in a c-section.marci2lynn: I was in labor for 18 hours, pushed for about ten minutes.

Labor experiences are like snowflakes–no two are alike. You could also say they are subjective. When considering “labor”, I tend to break it up into two parts: early labor and active labor. Early labor begins when you notice a backache that doesn’t seem to go away, light menstrual cramps, contractions are intermittent and you might drift off to sleep. At this time, your cervix gradually effaces (thins out) and dilates (opens).

In contrast, active labor is the moment when labor takes over your entire thought process. You count each breath, each sound, each moment until the next wave of contractions grip you. Your body and mind get down to business–usually, your baby will be born soon. At this time, your cervix begins to dilate more rapidly, and contractions are longer, stronger, and closer together. People often refer to the last part of active labor as transition.

I’ve experienced six births–you might say I have some experience in this area. I don’t know whoever made up the flaming lie that the more children you have, the easier childbirth becomes–it is simply not true. My fastest labor and birth was my fifth child–active labor was a mere two and a half hours. My longest, most agonizing labor was my sixth baby. Early labor went on and off for two weeks. When it finally kicked in, all who were present told me this–it was like a scene from The Exorcist for twelve hours, with potty breaks.

How long were you in labor? Count from the moment where it felt pretty unbearable and you wanted to make it all stop and go away.

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129 Responses to How long were you in labor?

My water spontaneously broke at home. My daughter was born 8 hours later. I thought it was pretty fast!

Fitchersays:

January 24, 2013 at 7:23 am

My water never fully broke only started leaking. From that point I was in labor with my first two contractions being 30 minutes apart. The contractions then went down from there to 2-3 minutes apart. I went to the hospital and was dialated to 4. 30 minutes later i was fully dialated. Didn’t even have time for an IV much less pain meds. I only pushed for about 5 minutes. I was lucky to have a great easy labor! God knows the kid has definitely made up for that easy labor for the past 13 years!

Tarasays:

January 24, 2013 at 7:50 am

I dialated to 5 cm over a span of a few weeks before my water even broke. So I was admitted, induced, the doc broke my water, and about 9 hours later, I was 10 cm. I pushed for an hour and a half, but my big headed child would NOT come out lol. I had a c-section. Overall, it was exactly 11 hours from water breaking to delivery through c-section.

gwensays:

January 24, 2013 at 7:50 am

Water broke at 8 she was here at 1047

Amysays:

January 24, 2013 at 7:51 am

36 hours…20 without any medication and I finally caved. Only pushed for an hour of it though!

Kellysays:

January 24, 2013 at 7:51 am

I was induced on a Wednesday evening. They broke my water Thursday afternoon. I ended up with a csection that night. Id say I was in hell for 5 hours.

Samantha Josays:

January 24, 2013 at 7:52 am

I had contractions for about 2 days, went to hospital at 4cm… they waited and broke my water at 7cm(about 5 hrs later) at around 10:45… and my beautiful baby boy was born at 11:40 -sans drugs. So, I got lucky at only 45mins of hard labor!! You can do it mommas… your body does it for ya!

kelseysays:

January 24, 2013 at 7:52 am

I was in labor for about a half hour with my first and pushed for 18 mins

MeaganHallsays:

January 24, 2013 at 7:52 am

I was in labor counting my water being broke for 5 1/2 hours pushed for 2 1/2 medicated. For my second child, they broke my water at noon, contractions didn’t kick I until about 2:30 3 ish I had an epidural but it didn’t take in time, so I was on,y in labor for 2 1/2 hours and pushed for 11minutes

desireesays:

January 24, 2013 at 7:53 am

I was in labor for 5 days. Active labor for 12hours

vesnasays:

January 24, 2013 at 7:53 am

7 hours to a minut from water breaking to having my baby.

Jennysays:

January 24, 2013 at 7:54 am

My water broke at 6:00 am on April 18th, and I had her at 1:13 in the afternoon that same day. It was a 6 hour labor with an hour of pushing. My water broke at home. It was pretty amazing. She was 2 weeks early though.

I didn’t really experience “Early Labor” with either of my children, only “Active Labor”. With my first, my amniotic fluid started to disappear so they admitted me and said they would have to induce if I didn’t go into labor soon. I felt okay for a few hours and then had terrible back labor and got an epidural. From time of admittance to birth was about 8 hours. With my second, my contractions started at 3 minutes apart so we had the OB paged while we were driving to the hospital. My daughter was born about 2.5 hours later.

Anna SDsays:

January 24, 2013 at 7:57 am

I have 4 kids and were in labor for half an hour for all of them except for the second one which was an hour long. I know I was pretty lucky and I’ve never had epidural on any of them. First three kids, water bag had to be broken and with my last one 9 months ago, my water bag broke and her head was crowning when we got to the hospital..doctor said I could’ve given birth in the car. I can’t imagine going into labor for a few hours.

I went in for an induction at 5 am, and had my daughter at 8:02pm. I remember the doctor coming in and I was at about a 4, and maybe an hour later, she came back to check me, and I was fully dialated and ready to push. I did maybe one “practice” push, and 2 more pushes later she was there! My experience was very easy!

Daniellesays:

January 24, 2013 at 7:59 am

I was in labor for three hours, start to finish.

Brandy McGuiresays:

January 24, 2013 at 8:00 am

My first water broke on september 15th at 8:00 at night contractions didnt start until 7 the next morning they werent strong until 8 when they induced me worried for the baby contractions slowly built up to full blown by 10 and by 1130 i could start pushing. son was here 12:10 pm on september 16th of 2011 now pregnant with my second and hoping to have another quick labour

Jennsays:

January 24, 2013 at 8:00 am

1st child: 12 hours start to finish; about 25 minutes of pushing
2nd child: 8 hours start to finish; 5 minutes & 2 pushes! But he was three weeks early AND my water broke in a restaurant. GOOD TIMES.

Jennifer in VTsays:

January 24, 2013 at 8:00 am

With my first my water broke around 2 pm, contractions started at 6:30pm(lasting 1 minute and 3 minutes apart) and she was here just after 11pm so about 4.5 hours. With my second went to the bathroom at 4am and had the typical post bathroom contraction, I also had bloody show at that time. I joked with my husband that maybe it was time he brushed it off and went to work. About 5 I realized it was the real deal and contractions were about a minute and 5 minutes apart. I was laughing and joking in the car, we even had to stop for gas and I was fine. Got to the hospital was 5cm and still laughing and talking about 1/2 hour later it kicked in and he was born a 1/2 hour after that. So about 4.5-5 hours total with him but it did not really hurt until the last couple cm. My water did not break until the push before he came out.

erinsays:

January 24, 2013 at 8:01 am

for me my labor was 26 and a half hours long and i pushed for a little under an hour.

Kaileysays:

January 24, 2013 at 8:02 am

I was in active labour for 8 hours. After my epideral, my labour stopped and the nurse was being dumb. 10 min pushing without contractions before he was born.

FlorenciaMsays:

January 24, 2013 at 8:02 am

My early labor started 7 hours prior to JO being born, some back pain, going to the WC every three contractions, 2 contractions every 10 minutes.

Active labor started 2 before I gave birth. I broke my water just when it was to be broken. I pushed 2 and a half times an JO was out.

I hope my next baby comes the same way

Michelesays:

January 24, 2013 at 8:03 am

My water broke at work with 37 weeks at noon 12 pm and my baby was born at 3:28pm, only 3 pushes with no pain medication. Doctor said was an easy labor and not common for a first baby.

Lisa Kuhlsays:

January 24, 2013 at 8:03 am

My 1st: I was in the hospital on bedrest for a week prior to going in labor. I was having contractions but wasn’t feeling them but they were strong enough to slowly diliate me. They finally decided to induce labor by breaking my water. When they broke my water I was already 7cm diliated and I had not felt any pain. Once they broke my water, it hit hard and fast! 1 hour of contractions and 48 minutes of pushing, my daughter was born. 5lbs and no drugs

My second: I was induced at 35 weeks because my daughter was not doing well and it was in her best interest. They induced by breaking my water. Once again, I had no pain and I was 7cm diliated when they broke my water. Then it hit. My daughter danced her way out lol! 3 contractions and half a push, then she was born;-) 4lbs 7oz and no drugs

My third: They induced my son at 39 weeks by giving me something to jumpstart contractions. 5 hours of contractions, 21 minutes of pushing, he got stuck in my birth canal with my docs hand wrapped around his neck. It was scary. He was simply to big for me and should have been a c-section. But I heard he was stuck and that is all it too. I let out a scream and pushed until it felt like I was going to passout. He was born;-) 6lbs 11oz. no drugs

Brisays:

January 24, 2013 at 8:04 am

My water broke at 4am and contractions started 15 minutes later 5 minutes apart. I had a total of 6 hrs labor 3 of them pushing. My daughter was born at home in a pool with a midwife. I plan to do it again in about 4 weeks give or take.

I was induced so I’m not sure how to count this. I went to L&D at 8 pm on Thursday night. Around 10 pm the nurses inserted Cervadil and gave me Ambien. So I don’t really count Thursday night into Friday as Labor. Cervadil was removed around 7:30 AM and my OB was there at 8 AM–I was only dilated to 1 cm, but fully effaced. She broke my water and started Pitocin, so I count my labor starting at 8 AM. Got my epidural at 10 AM (3 cm dilated). My son was born at 2:30 PM. So 7.5 hours total. First and only child.

Tiffanysays:

January 24, 2013 at 8:08 am

Water broke early (35wks) at home. We arrived at the hospital about 2 hrs later and I was only at 1cm. 15 hrs after water broke I was only at 6cm so Dr decided to induce & I decided to get the epidural. Lol, an hour later (10 mins of pushing) my dd was here and everyone was healthy!

Brookesays:

January 24, 2013 at 8:08 am

My 1st child my water broke and nothing else happened I waited 24+ hours before going into the hospital to be induced. I had been 2cm for about a month. Once I was given the pit I was in labor for 6 hrs. I hit 8cm and thought I was done but after pushing for about a half hour out came my 9.3 son. I was preparing for our second child who I figured would be just the same. Well far from it, my pregnancy was awful for my second everyone was so sure I was going early.Every week I went to the doctors I was moving further along but nothing was kicking in. The day before my dd I had had enough and made plans to be induced on my dd. Mind you I was 3 cm at that point. I never made the night. I slept right through all my contractions just made it to the hospital in time to deliver. My doc had just made it trying to get the gown on cause yet my water never broke out came my 7.7 baby girl in her sack. They say this is very special thing having a baby in caul.

Rachaelsays:

January 24, 2013 at 8:09 am

My membranes were stripped at 39 weeks, that night I began having contractions around 9-10pm. Woke up at 3am definitely in labor haha. all in all 19 hours of NATURAL labor and delivery, that’s including a 20 minute pushing again, 19 hours

Karensays:

January 24, 2013 at 8:09 am

I began to feel minor labor cramps around 8 am while at work. Around 10 am I called the dr and began to monitor how often they were coming. I went to see the dr around 1 pm. Came home walked around the block twice and the intense labor pains began. I headed to the hospital around 4:30 and i was starting to really hurt. Less than 30 of waiting in triage my little girls heartbeat dropped twice so I ended up getting a c-section. Never dialated past 3 cm. They also gave me meds to stop my labor while I waited for surgery. My little girl was born at 7:39 pm. Total labor time 11 hours. Hard labor time less than 3 hours.

kaysays:

January 24, 2013 at 8:10 am

15 hours of laborious water didn’t break. Then 15 serious pushing minutes she came out with that wrecking ball head and shoulders! Many stitches later, no I didn’t have an episiotomy, I cuddled with my bundle with a serious solid head. Ahh.. the most worthwhile extreme sport ever

stephsays:

January 24, 2013 at 8:11 am

1st- about 5 hours from first contraction till I gave birth pushed 1 1/2 hours all natural.
2nd-2 hours from first contraction. Pushed 5 minutes all natural.
3rd. Emergency c section as soon as I got to the hospital.

ambersays:

January 24, 2013 at 8:11 am

with all 4 of my kids I move to a 3 by about 34 weeks and then slowly move up to a 6 over the next few weeks with braxton hicks off and on. then when my water is broken by the Dr it moves fast my longest was my first 4 and 1/2 hours pushed for 5 min, then next was 3 hours pushed twice. The 3rd was about the same with more pushing about 7 min he was huge, the last baby came fast way to fast 1 hour and 30 min pushed twice and she was here. the last was way scary to much to fast! But I knew going in with all my kids that I would be fast 4 generations of woman in my family have had babys the same way fast.

katrinasays:

January 24, 2013 at 8:11 am

my first is the hardest one to know how long I was in labor for counting early labor. I woke up in the middle of the night with horrid back pain. Went back to bed. Woke up at 8 am and felt fine. I want to say I was in active for 3 hours. I pushed for maybe an hour. All Natural. I was progressing too fast to have a choice.

My second was a whirl wind. I was laboring at 10 pm. I went to the hospital two hours later and had my son a half an hour after getting there. All natural.

My third was the easiest by far. I woke up at 4:30 am I drew a bath got in and realized taking a bath was not an option. Waking my boyfriend up and getting the kids to his parent’s house was the only one. I called the hospital told them I’m having a baby. I was in labor for an hour at max. I had my baby after 10 minutes of pushing. All natural.

Gianna Bednarskisays:

January 24, 2013 at 8:12 am

I was in labor for a little over 11 hours with my daugter. My water broke at 5:30am and Madison was born at 4:38pm. I was very glad my labor was shorter than the 24 hours they predicted a first child would take at the birthing class I took.

Jessicasays:

January 24, 2013 at 8:12 am

My first baby (girl) was about 15 hours. Pushed for about 10 minutes- medicated.

My second baby (boy) was about 3 hours though I didn’t realize I was in labor because it only felt like period cramps. I barely made it to the hospital. Got there, room wasn’t ready for baby, got on the bed and started pushing. Pushed for about 10 (I refused to push; ring of fire, lol!- not medicated.

I hope that third baby (currently pregnant) will be as easy and am striving for another non-medicated birth! (:

Autumnsays:

January 24, 2013 at 8:13 am

I was in labor for 18 hours. Contractions started around midnight and I went to the hospital at 10 a.m. I pushed for 20 minutes and my son was born at 6:17 p.m.!!

emily hestonsays:

January 24, 2013 at 8:13 am

From water starting to break at 7 am til she arrived at 6:18 pm.. pushed for like 30 minutes

Tawneysays:

January 24, 2013 at 8:14 am

I was induced on my due date, October 19 at 10am and he wasn’t born until October 21 at 1:10 am so just about 40 hours. It only took an hour to push thank goodness. Unmediated!!

Mandasays:

January 24, 2013 at 8:15 am

With my first I was induced and she took just under 13 hours from the time they started the pitocin.
My second was maybe 10 hours. It’s hard to pin down a start time though, what with my husband passing out, me throwing up, and the first baby waking up sick all around that same time.

rachellesays:

January 24, 2013 at 8:17 am

with my first from first contraction to giving birth 13 hours 2.45 of that was pushing 7lb 2oz baby
my second my waters broke on the tuesday at 3pm but no contractions they didnt start till 6.40pm the next time and i give birth at 9.55pm 8lb 1 oz baby

rachellesays:

January 24, 2013 at 8:20 am

oh and 30 mins pushing

Rebekahsays:

January 24, 2013 at 8:22 am

15 hours of hard and fast contractions that lasted 1 minute and were 2 minutes apart but wasn’t dilating, had to have pitocin to help me dilate and had IV medicine to help me sleep between the contractions. Found out I can’t have an epidural, heart rate skyrocketed and blood pressure bottomed out when they tried, so I went forward with what I would consider an all natural birth. They had to break my water and by the time they did that and it was time to push the IV medicine had worn off. Only took 30 minutes of pushing and 1 push to get the afterbirth out.

My first labor lasted 8 hours and I pushed for 10 minutes (if that). My second was only 2 hours, she was born 12 minutes after getting to the hospital and I only pushed for about 3 minutes. Both were un-medicated.

Mollysays:

January 24, 2013 at 8:23 am

I went for a normal check up and found out I was 7cm’s dialated; went straight to the hospital & by the time I was “checked in”, I was 10 cm’s (finally some pain)…1 push (about 5 mins) later, I had a healthy baby girl. My doctor said the next pregnancy I’ll have to be in the hospital waiting room the entire last trimester

Cindysays:

January 24, 2013 at 8:25 am

So I have been thinking about this as I was reading. With my first my water broke around 1:30ish in the afternoon. Went to hospital (was at my doctor’s visit across the street at the time). They hooked me up and said there were contractions, but I couldn’t feel them. Walked around and around 7 I believe the contractions started and continually got stronger until they were unbearable around 9. Gave me an epidural and the minute it was in I was at 10 around 10pm and they had me start pushing. I did this for 3 hours when she was finally born. (I didn’t even get a chance to sleep a little once the epidural was in). With my second my water broke around 6pm. Got to the hospital around 9:30 where they got me checked in and to my room around 10:30. No contractions that I could feel. Gave me pitocin to get me started. First contraction I could feel was unbearable instantiously around midnight. Asked for the epidural. Finally got that around 2:15 in the morning and gave me the inital start of it only to discover I was at a 10 (never finished the whole epidural procedure) and started pushing and second baby girl was here a little after 3. I guess in thinking about it, I progress from 0-10 quickly (both times going from 1 and 2’s to 10 in like 3 hours or less. My water broke long before anything else started which if I ever have another, I am hoping it goes the same way.

Jennifersays:

January 24, 2013 at 8:26 am

I was having labor pains for 2 and a half weeks. After my water broke 5 hours pushed for 30 minutes. My daughter was born at 29 weeks.

Cassiesays:

January 24, 2013 at 8:28 am

From the unbearable moment to holding baby was about 2 hours. From when I realized I was in labor about 6 hours and from when I estimate it started about 8 hours. I have no idea how long I pushed I wasn’t paying attention and it didn’t result in anything I had to have an episiotomy.

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